The big 3 upgrade question.

kolelt

New member
Well after ordering the savage front bumper with winch set up. I have few questions. Is it worth to do the big 3 upgrade and upgrade the alternator ? Or just keep it stock ? I was looking at 200A alternator. I'll be running a 5 channel amp to power my door speakers and one 10" sub. Small amp
Nothing crazy. Plus I have 2 LED bars one 41.5 and one 21.5. And on top of that once I get the front bumper. I'll get a winch. So should o upgrade the wires and alternator. Or just get a good battery. !?
 
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yes. if you upgrade the alternator, upgrade the big 3.

And i would highly recommend doing it with the stuff that you say you have.
 
I did the big three and it felt like it made a difference when starting. Also installed a 2nd battery and about to do the CS144 alternator upgrade 140amp easy and cheap.

So far the stock alternator has been fine charging 2 Batts and accessories though.



.
 
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Pardon my ignorance but what's the big 3?

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Upgraded wires to thicker gauge then stock wires. Consists of alternator positive to battery positive, battery negative to chassis and engine ground to chassis.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_postsm.asp?tid=73496

Real question. Is it really worth to do it.

For a small 10"sub with 5 channel amp ( small one )
2 led bars ( few more later )
A winch ( for occasional winching )
 
I did the Big 3 just Recently, not on my 98' but on another car. Made a difference. Starts easier, highlights don't dim due to aftermarket car stereo....glad I did. Do it!
 
Does anyone else find it funny that you would put a Che*y product on your Toyota and call it an upgrade? That's funny..

Our second car is a Che*y so I don't feel to bad making this observation.
 
Well after ordering the savage front bumper with winch set up. I have few questions. Is it worth to do the big 3 upgrade and upgrade the alternator ? Or just keep it stock ? I was looking at 200A alternator. I'll be running a 5 channel amp to power my door speakers and one 10" sub. Small amp
Nothing crazy. Plus I have 2 LED bars one 41.5 and one 21.5. And on top of that once I get the front bumper. I'll get a winch. So should o upgrade the wires and alternator. Or just get a good battery. !?

just ordered my winch today..and this is definitely going to happen before winch install.

big 3 + new alternator and battery
 
Does anyone else find it funny that you would put a Che*y product on your Toyota and call it an upgrade? That's funny..

Our second car is a Che*y so I don't feel to bad making this observation.

It's the same thing as putting Chevy axles under a Toyota for a SAS setup. Not too far out of the norm anyways.
At any rate, the CS144 is not a "Chevy part" but actually an ACDelco product, who does make some Toyota parts.
 
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Some chevy parts are considered an "upgrade" ;)

DSC00466.jpg~original
 
Upgraded wires to thicker gauge then stock wires. Consists of alternator positive to battery positive, battery negative to chassis and engine ground to chassis.

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_postsm.asp?tid=73496

Real question. Is it really worth to do it.

For a small 10"sub with 5 channel amp ( small one )
2 led bars ( few more later )
A winch ( for occasional winching )

That is a question only YOU can answer. Most of what we do is not "worth it" in the strict sense of the word. Your amp and sub, are not an issue unless you are killing off your battery by playing it with the engine off for hours at a time. The LED bars are also relatively small draws. As an example my L/C has 14 non-LED lights that when all are turned on including the headlights draw over 80 Amps. The factor GM alternator keeps up with no problem, it is rated at 95 Amps.

Now the winch is a different story, as not only is the amperage draw very high, as the winch motor and cables get hot it increases, and it isn't always convenient to have the engine running while using it, like if you are in deep water. I use a hydraulic Mile Marker winch, so I can't give you actual readings, but a winch can draw much more than 100A very easily. So if you manage it, and are careful, there is probably no need for upgrading the alternator. I tried to talk my friend out of it, he bought a mean green, and it failed on the trail, go figure.

Definitely your call, I'd say follow what [MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION] said, do the big 3 then see how it goes!

:typing:
 
That is a question only YOU can answer. Most of what we do is not "worth it" in the strict sense of the word. I tried to talk my friend out of it, he bought a mean green, and it failed on the trail, go figure.

Definitely your call, I'd say follow what [MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION] said, do the big 3 then see how it goes!

:typing:

I was looking at mean green alternators and starters. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Does anyone else find it funny that you would put a Che*y product on your Toyota and call it an upgrade? That's funny..

Our second car is a Che*y so I don't feel to bad making this observation.

Just being a smart a$$. Seems to me it takes more time and money to keep the car happy than the 4runner. And ask me which I'd rather work on!
 

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